Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire knight or any of its characters

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Kaname stood on a balcony overlooking an estate of who he did not know. The Hunter Association and the Senate decided it would be a good idea to host a social gathering to try and make some sort of friendly tie between hunters and vampires. In truth, it was a political party for the higher ups in both parties to gain some points. Kaname did not care. He really did not care for social gatherings, balls, etc... the life he had was not his own, having been awakened and used to keep the woman he was calling 'mother' from falling into a depression. Kaname recalled a later memory in his past life and smiled. Warm lavender eyes, a soft smile, and silver hair that barely obscured lavender eyes. His past life. A life with a loving mate, who was bearing their first child. A happier time when all they worried about was what to name the child. The memory flickered and a vision of blood stained everything. Kaname tilted his head down to look at the grass down below as the memory played out. The memory of coming home to a slaughtered mate, their child having been ripped from his body. The memory of holding both bodies as they shattered into glass and dust right in his arms. The grief that struck him and the rest of the ancestral Kuran family. Kaname's grief had been so great, his own brother put him into slumber. Now, hundreds of years later, here he was living a life that belonged to Juri and Haruka's original son. Kaname understood the child was born weak while the others before him died before birth. The original Kuran son had slowly begun to die and Rido did what he thought was best to save his sister from the same grief that put Kaname, the ancestor, to sleep. Rido sacrificed the baby to awaken him and he took the form of the child. Rido had never stopped apologizing to him since then but Kaname understood his thinking. While saving his sister, Rido at the same time believed that restarting the ancestor's life would give Kaname a second chance at having a mate and a family. Kaname looked up at the sky and gazed at the moon above. He was only eight years old in this life but Kaname felt he was ready to settle down, but he knew it had to wait and he knew it was because of his past.

"Is there any particular reason why you chose to guard this balcony with such a gloomy mood?" Kaname turned to answer back, not liking having been intruded on, but stopped. It was as if he was looking right at his past in physical form. The person, no boy, before him had to be no less than a year younger than Kaname himself. A soft smile warmed lavender eyes that were barely obscured by shining silver locks. His breath caught and his eyes widened and he could not stop himself from uttering the words.

"Rei? Rei it can not be you..." The boy in front of him gave Kaname a weird look, something that snapped him out of his reverie.

"Rei? I have heard that name before..." The boy closed his eyes for a second before opening them again. Something in them told Kaname that the boy had an idea of who he was talking about. "I'm sorry but Rei is long gone. He has been since his murder by a rogue hunter hundreds of years ago. His death is used as a lesson about the consequences of killing a vampire for no true reason at all." Kaname stepped closer to the boy. He looked so much like Rei when they were kids that so many memories were popping up in his head.

"You are a hunter..." Kaname mentally smacked himself. It was a stupid thing to say but now the coincidence was unparalleled. Rei had been a hunter in their younger days before accepting Kaname's proposal.

"Of course. My name is Zero Kiryu. What is yours?" Kaname's heart all but stopped. There was no way. A reincarnation should not have been possible. Not unless Rei had not let go. Pain shot through Kaname's heart at the thought of his beloved laying on the floor, slowing dying, wondering where Kaname was and why he did not save them. "Are you ok?" Kaname smiled. Rido knew of Zero. Kaname truly understood now when Rido had said this life was Kaname's second chance at happiness again.

"Yes. I'm sorry you reminded me of him. My name is..."

"Kaname Kuran. Not the original Kuran son but the one from our lessons. I know of you. They said the only way they could stop you from your grief fueled rampage, was to put you to sleep." Kaname stared at Zero in surprise.

"I know my past existence did not stir a 'lesson' for hunters" Zero smiled and Kaname could not help but give a small smile back.

"It didn't. I had asked my master about any incident's where a hunter had gone rogue and sparked the bloody feud between vampires and hunters. He told me of the murder of a former hunter turned vampire. It was said that he and the pure blood that turned him, had loved each other very much and that their mating became the founding bridge to end the war. That was until a hunter went rogue and sought them out. Unable to find the pure blood vampire he decided to take away what was most precious to him. Knowing about the child the hunter carried, the rogue murdered him. He cut the baby from his stomach, letting the fragile life rapidly snuff out. It was said he left a little before the pure blood returned and when they were found, the pure blood was stricken with such grief that he killed all who dared to oppose him. His brother was able to get close enough to him and put him in a deep sleep. His blood was spilled to put his brother into slumber, therefore blood needed to be spilled to awaken him. Why did they wake you up?" Kaname stared at Zero for a minute.

"I wouldn't worry too much about that. I assure you it is not for evil purposes." Kaname did not realize that Zero had tensed as he watched the young hunter relax.

"I look like him, don't I?" Kaname was taken aback by the sudden question and couldn't find an answer. Not one that would betray him. "Rido told me that from descriptions he heard, I look like Rei. You called me Rei when you saw me. That's how I knew who you were. You're probably wondering if I have any flashes of memories that are not mine. I do. A lot of them actually. Lately they have been more frequent."

"Is that why you asked your master about what happened?" Kaname could not believe what he was hearing. If Zero had memories of his and Rei's past life, then that meant...

"I kept having the same nightmare. I still do. I kept seeing a hunter stand over me, my blood spilling out across a wood floor. I remember screaming as he held a baby by its neck before slashing it across its belly. I remember screaming for someone and feeling hopeless as I died. Before I would wake up crying, I remember someone holding me and feeling their body shake from crying. I'd wake up screaming and crying every night, I had to ask." Zero had walked over to the balcony railing and was leaning against it looking up at the moon. Kaname had taken up the spot next to him and by the time Zero had finished he found himself wrapped tightly in the arms of a very old pure blood. "Kaname..."

"I want to say how sorry I am but what use is that now? You are not Rei. You may look like him but you are not him. We lived in a time where having a soft heart got you killed at a young age. He was as cold and callous as I was. The child he carried was what melted the ice in our hearts and allowed us to feel. Every hunter I came across that night I slaughtered without a second thought or hesitation. I suppose by the time my brother got to me I was so soaked in blood he barely recognized me. He told me, as he started the spell, that he hoped by the time I was reawakened that it would be in more peaceful times where having a family meant happines and not grief and pain. My last memory of that time was being covered in my brother's blood before I faded away into slumber." Kaname had not let go of Zero, but the boy didn't seem to mind. He was running his fingers through Kaname's hair as the pure blood talked. 'I found you. Finally.' Zero thought as he slowly pushed himself away enough to look at Kaname.

"Do you know the real reason this social was arranged?" Kaname stared at Zero in confusion making the young hunter laugh.

"Rido had convinced the higher ups that it was for political purposes. In truth, those close to my family and yours were told by Rido that it was to get us together. My parents and yours have already agreed to betroth me to you. In a way, it's a secret engagement party." Zero blushed and Kaname could not help but chuckle.

"Well, how so you feel about it?"

"In the beginning, I was upset. I wasn't told who it was till we were on our way here. I wanted to find you because of the memories I possessed and the fact that I felt drawn to you. When they told me of my betrothal I refused to talk to my parents until this evening when they finally told me who I was being given to."

"Then I believe we should let them know their planning worked." Kaname chuckled as Zero smiled. The lavender eyed hunter leaned up and kissed Kaname on the cheek lightly before both walked back holding hands.